Vending-machine.



E. B. SHANKS.

I VENDING MACHINE. APPLQATION FILED JUNE 8,1908.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2. /f l lltaentd June 22, 1909.

fmmmw *elm humaanv ci. *i if? i EDWARD B. SHANKS, OF SBNGWOOD, VRGINA.

Application filed June 1908.

To all whomit may eminem.'

Be it known thetl, EDWARD B. SHANKs, e citizen of the United States, residing et Springwood, in the countv ol" Botetourt :ind State of Virginie, neve invented e new end useful Vending-Medline, ol which the following is e speeiieetion.

This invention has referenee to improvements in vending machines, being designed more )ertieulerlv for the vending of souvenir postal cords, although adapted to the vende ingry of other articles than postal eards.

The object of the present invention is to provide ineens for the displayv of e number oi the postal eerds et one time, so that the pureheser may readily exeniine the dis )lav end make e choice without the necessity,7 of inoving the machine.

The invention comprises ineens for the support of e series of postal cords or several cards arranged in series-witl'i ineens for moving any one of the eerds, or greens of cards, opposite e discharge opening', wien on the insertion of e suitable coin or token, an ejecting, apparatus is placed into operative rele# tion to the postal card. opposite the discharge opening, so that the card niav then he readily 1r de accessible to the purchaser.

The invention also contemplates means wherebyv the postal cords muy he delivereil either one a time, or in n'iulti'ples, without necessitating anyv eli-inge in the structuri: oi the machine. f

The invention will oe "liest understood from a consideration ol the following detailed description, teken 'ni connection with the neeonipnnving drawings forming e. part of this speeiiieation, in which drawings*- Figure i is a pien View oie 'the machine with parts broken aweyi Fig. 2 is e. longitudinal section on :t larger senile than shown in Fie; il, and with parts broken sway. Fig'. irl a 1perspective view ol one of the card trays. Fig. 4 is e cross section on the line A-B of Fig. l, but on e larger seele. 5 is a per spective viewed .from the under side. oi the ejecting mechanism.

in the drawings, the vending' inael'iine is shown es an elongated rectangular structure, so that nniny postal eeids niej, be displayed in the sinne piane, but it will he understood that it will constitute no depnrture l'roni the present invention to ineke the structure squnre or eylinilrieel, or polygonal.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown n.

Specification el Letters fetent,

' I easing i, whieh, in the pertieulnr ferm shown in the i'lrziwings, en elongated box of suhstantie-lllv square cross sdetion. Neer one end oi the hon interior tliereto there isf'iournailed :i roller 2 and neer the other end of the bei; interior thereto 'there is journaled eroller 3, with the upper edges of the rollers a short distance below the ton 4ioi" the cese, :md in the seine longitndinei plane. The top fl is 4provided with transparent or glass 'partitions 5, through lwhich the contents oi the` herr.b rn he readily viewed.

Extending between the rollers 2 and 3 is o, shelf or plnne-supviort Extending around. the rollers ere two endless strands 'Ya-7, spaced sperrt, end carrying in close rele-lion n Continuo ns series of boxes or recente eies il, the seid receptacles being inode lest to the strands 7 in any sn'tehie inenner, end the strands being' preferably formed el' sonic flexible materiel ol suillci-eirl'y strength so that the seid stremls end reeentiicles constitute en endless eerrier. In order to eetuate the carrier one journal ol' the roller 3 is continued through the side oi' the hoy; end 'there carries e manipulating handle 9 in 'the l'orin oi e. linoh in the particular construction shown, so that the operator or purcheser :may rotete the knol) in either direction sind therein,r enuse the reeepteeles 8 to ness in view. The series oi' reeepterles iney oe freely eetueted et en v time hv the purclniser, so that the entire series ol' reiweptneles ina'y he caused to traverso the iiieli'l ol' view, und the `purcheeer he thereh'y ennliled to inspect ell el' the postal cards visihle in the hoxes or reeepi'eelef-i-h, :ind thus he enzthled to inalie a el'ioiee.

At n. suitahlc point in one side oll the rinsing i neer the upper edge tliei'e n.` is :i dischzfu'gre opei'iingr il). protected hy e niet so that the discharge throat oi' the opening 10 is onlr snfiicient to nei-init the passage ol' eJ postal Gerd, or eliinited nunilver oi postal cerds starl ei`i.. Coineident with 'the dis el'ierge opening; i() there is e cross piece l 2 ex mindingT from the iront to the hach oi' the hex, 4 eind rigidi)Y secured thereto. Yhis cross niece 12 serves elvsupport lor the electing` ineehenisin ol' the structure. On the under side oi the cross piece il? is i'ornxed e longitudiinil channel i3, ruoif'ided with sneulders le lor the reception nl a-.sli-ding plate 15 eepahie oi 'moving longitudinally in the channel lll Meinst the shoulders is.

'lhis plete l5 heid against the shoulders le piece i8, rising from the upper* ieee of thel plete 15, so that the operatoivmey-gespi the thumb or finger piece i8 and eetuete the plete 15 in e direction longitudinal of the cross ieee 12. The plete l5 is only oi' cient ength to *eermit it longitudinal movement with ieletion to the cross pieee 12, this movement being limited. by the length ci the slot i?. fit the inner end oi the plete-15 there ere two springs connected et the ends remote from the piete 15 to suitable points on 'the under side oi the cross piece 312,'tne tendency of these spi'ings 19 beingr to maintain the plete l5 with the finger piece i8 in engagement with the end of the slot 17 remote from the delivery ope-nine; in the easing.

Formed on the 'under side of the lreati end of the plete 15 ere eine 2) between ,which is pivoted e rod 2]. extending reerwerclly to neer the teer end of cross piene 12. Qn this rod et e suitable distance from the lpivot end, there is formed e stud 22, to wiiioii letter there is connected e, light helical spring 223, the other end of which is mede fest to eiifeye 24 on the upper fece of the Piate l5 neer the yreel end thereof. This spring 23 is of suiicient strength to maintain the red 2i in. en elevated ositioi under normal conditions@ Neer t e reef; end of the eicss piece i2 there is formed e guiolewey extending above the uiper feo-e of the cross piece l2, and entered. leterelly by e eliennel 2e, which channel passes through the cross iieoe i2 et a oint about midwey of its widti end opens into the interior of the machine. Carried by the cross piece 12 on the under sigle, and on eaelnside of tlie chennel Z6 where it through the cross piece l2, are guide sti-ips 27 having their contacting feces formed. with guide channels 28 extending from the einen nel 2G downward to the l wer ends el' tiie guide strips 27., whichlettei terminate et e about its pivot support point in operative relation. to e, suitable 'receptacle 39 Within the easing The for )il has itsreer endxtending between the guide -strsl When e. coin of suitable denonii ne on is inserted in the' olirnniel 25, "in e direction perellel with the upper fece of the cross piece 12, it will roll laterally until opposite the downward extension. of the chen nel 26 and will then grevitete into the grooves 28 in the guide' strips 27 and ultimately fell into the reeepteele 29. Neef the lower end of the uide strips 27 these two strips are a i med y a connecting membeiv e0. flhe ength of the rod 21 1s suoli that when mow-eri 20 ege-inst the ect-ion,

- of the spring 23, its free end will ultimately be forced downward until stopped oy the eonneetmg piece 30. 0n the under suie oi to lieve e limited eem-see the i l et e point 'and guide lip BLW.

between its pivot end Z etiifs there is formed e ie sirene, emilie, the particular instance under eonsirieretion are of e size mlgiiteii to receive one or postet oeis. me end 32 of eeeii boy; 8 is of height than the eide memliefs of vthe liox, end extending n*setween the two side .inemliei'e of the box et e point etliecent to reduced end Sfr, ie imi ectinges e stop ber, es will presently @pour in. the eottoin oi the box, there is formed e snot 34, somewhat elongated in the dii'eotion of the travel of tli'e bei:I end' on the .shelf 6 directly beneath thel cross piece l2, there is e, now spring adapted to enter the slot 34, but yielding to the travel oi the ocx 8 in either direction. will presently oppeer, this new spring 52,5 operates es e locating stop for yieldingly' arresting the travel oi' eeolfi box 8 e point tiirectlybeneeth the oross piece t2. ,Fest on, the bottom of the box is e pair of spaced leef springs 36, the 'free ends oi which are curved downwnrsl es infiioeted et 37, end these free ends :we located neer the enel of the inox and beneath the cross piece 33. Theother end oi' the box is termed the neottoiii with e longitudinal i'eeess 38 extending into the bottoni of the box from the end remote i'xoin end 32 e suitable distance miti-wey between the two sides oi the bei;7 and et this .recessed enel of the nox on eeen sirle of the ro is steek oi' elastic clips 39, seouied et one eno to the eide members of the box. These clips ere generally' Ushejoed, end ere rloubied on themselves with the ends toward the reduced end of the box spread epert, so that the steek of clips at their inner ends ere in eonteet, and et their outer ends where they are (loubied on themselves ere out of Contact or senereted. This sti'uotuie permits the introduction of one or more postsi @mais et the end. of the inox S-eerying the clips 39, these postati eziwls lieineoreed through the clips into the box unti. heir other ends are engaged Aby the spring end forest? un against the cross lien: 33. Eede box. is mienten to noid e steek of ere visiblefet one time and the purchaser is enabled to exeinine these eerdset will, and by menipuleting the knob may bring other cards in View untiir the entire series of (herds which een ne brought loto View have been. exeiniueu, when the eieiee ze;

meile, the Y' Miti eieinng new to tiee ooxesor reeepteelee l 3,5 ereshowu es generally ,etengulerf pafcular box containing the chosen card is roght beneath the cross har 12, and will automaticallT stop at the proper point loecause of the entrance of the spring 35 into the slot 34, although this spring does not interfere with the continuous movement of the entire series of boxes at the will of the purchaser, since the spring 35 is an indicative stop and not a positive stop. The chosen card havingl heen brought 1nene-ath the cross bar 12 a coin of suitable denomination is introduced into the coin conduit and en- 'gages and depresses the rod 21 until the downward movement of the rod is arrested by the engagement of the rod With the uppermost postal card in the particular box Now, the o )crater grasps the finger piece 18 and pulls t ie plate or slide 15 toward the front'of the casing'. The coin on depressing' the rod 21 has brought the lip 31 into operative relation to the uppermost card and on the forward movement of the plate 15, this Carr1 is moved out through the delivery openin@I 10 for a sulicicnt distance to be Within reach of the purchas When the plate 15 is drawn forward, the rear end of the rod 21 is also moved to an extent sui'iicient to bring,T it in front of the coin guides 27, and the coin is thereby allowed to escape and gravitate into the receptacle 29. As soon as the coin escapes, a spring 23 returns the rod 21 to its uppermost position, and it is no longer in operative relation to a postal card.

Let it be assumed that there are several post cards in a box S, and that the upper'- most one has been removed from the machine, and that the purchaser desires to obtain the second or third, or which ever it is that is in view. On the insertion of the proper coin, the rod 121 is again depressed against the action of the spring 23, and the downward movement continues until the rod is 'arrested b v engagement with the rear end ol the visible postal iard. ln this case a depression of the rodfQl is grr rter than in the lirst assumed rase, but the lip Sl is nevertireless in operative relation to the rear end of the visible postal card and such postal card is forced. out of the deliver)r openingP 1() as bollore on the forward movement ol the deliveryY slide plaie 15. The vsprings 36 always maintain the correspondingl ends of the posta card up against the cross har 7" 0) and in this position the uppermost postal card is always above the upper edge of the correspomling' end Si! ol the box S. The other ends of the postal cards are spaced apart in conformityY with the spacing ol the lclips L10.

if it he desired to set the machine for the deliver-vol' moril than one postal card for a coin of the proper size. then tvro or more postal cards are introduced between contij-uous'rlips 3S), so that the lip J-ll will engage the corresponding edges of rthe group of cards and deliver all of them simultaneously. ln this manner the machine is adapted to deliver one article7 or more than one article at .one operation on the introduction of a coin of proper value.

Il it be attempted to operate the machine by a coin other than the one for which the machine is set, the coin Will lall oil' the rod 21, or the coin cannot he introduced into the coin 'conduit 26. lli, lor instance, the machine be set to operate on the mtroduction oi a nve cent piece or nickel, the coin conduit 26 will be or' such size to not admit a coin of larger size, but, of course, it will admit coins of smaller size. The spring' 23, however, is so adjusted that While it will yield to the Weight of a live cent piece, and may also yield to the weight of a smaller coin, but not being held by the guides 27, because the coin is too narrow, it will fall oil1 the rod 21 and the machine Will not be operated when the slide plate 15 is pulled forward. One of the guides 27 may be made adjustable to and lrom the other as indicated, so that the said guides may be adjusted veriT accurately to a coin.

In the foregoing description the boxes 8 are described as being carried by strands 7. It is apparent, of course, that a belt may be substituted lor the strands.

What is claimed is 1. In a machine for vending' postal cards, an endless band, a series of receptacles on said hand open on one face and having a delivery opening` at one end, a casing inclosint,r the hand and receptacles and provided with a transparent portion exposingr a plurality of the receptacles to vievvY at a time, and a delivery mechanism eoactinp,I with any one of the receptacles and located intermediate of the length ol the transparent portion ofthe casing'.

2. In a machine for vending postal cards, an end ess hand free to move in either direction at all times at the will of an operator, a

. series or receptacles on said band open on one lace and havingr a delivery opening' at one end, a casing ini-,losing the barril and receptacles and provided with. a transparent portion 'exposing' a pluralityY ol' the receptacles to view at a time., a delivery n'iechanism eoacting' with any one ol" the receptacles and located intermediate ol the length 0l the transparent portion of the casing, and means for positioning' any chosen one of the recep llO tacles in operative relation to the delivery Y ln a vending' machine, a easing' havingy a transmrrent portion, an endless bandwithin the casingr havin;r a run past' the transparent portion of the easing', a support for the said run ol'l the belt l'oi" maintaining' the belt. in close relation to the trans'iarent portion of the casing', receptacles on the b clt `l'or the articles to he vended, and deliverv means in- 55 cardsand similar articles, a box or ree termediate of the transparent portion of the casing and coacting with any chosen one of the'receptacles.

4. In a vending machine, a casing having a transparent portion, an endless band within the casing having a runpast the transparent portion of the casing, receptacles on the belt having means for holding articles in super posed relation with the outermost ones only visible,` and e delivery .mechanism coaetii'ig with any chosen one ofthe rece tacles on 'the belt and having means for elivering the outermost or visible article in the chosen re ceptacle when the iatter is moved into operative relation 'to the vending mechanism.

5. ln a vending machine, a casing having a transparent portion, an en the casing, having a run past the transparent portion of the casing, a support for the said run of the belt for maintaining the belt in close relation to the transparent portion of the casing, receptacles on the belt each heving Ineens for holding articles in superposed relation with the outermost one only visible, and a delivery mechanism intermediate of the transparent portion of the casing and provided 'with means coacting with any chosen one of the receptacles 'to discharge the outermost article in said receptacle.

6. ln a vending machine, a series of receptacles, for the articles to be vended, compris ing each a box or holder, elastic means in the box or receptacle near one end thereof for urging the articles to be vended in one direction with reference to the hex or holder, and means at the other end of the box or holder .for holding the articles to be vendcd sepa rated one trom the other.

7. ln a vending machine, a box oir-receptacle for holding either one or a number of the articles to be vended, said. box or holder having means at one end for holding the eorresponding ends ol the articles separated one from the other, and nir-ans at the other end for maintaining the corresponding ends oi' the articles in close contact.

8. ln a vending machine for vendin postai cards and similarl articles, a box or ho der ar# ranged to .receivethe cards at one end and den liver them at the other, spacing clips at the receiving end of the box7 and springs and ciiecting stop strip at the delivery end of the box.

9. In a vending machine for vending postal.

less band within eptacle i ceases having the delivery end of less height than the sides, n. sto strip connectin the sides ad jacent to the r elivery end, springs in coperative relation to the said stop strip for forcing the corresponding ends of the cards against said sto strip, and elastic clips at the other end of tlie box, said clips being arran ed to receive individual or groups of car s between them.

1d. In o' vending machine, a series of boxes or receptacles for receiving postal cards and like larticleszj, earch box being provided at one end with tivo'v series of spacing clips, one series of clips being in spaced relation to the other series of clips, means at the end of the box remote from the Spacing clips for ur ing the corresponding ends'of the cards togeti and means for engaging the uppermost card or group of cards 111l the box to force the same from said box thereof. l

l1. In a vending mac ine for postal cards or similar articles, 'a box' or rece tacle for the cards, means in said box forho din of the cards in spaced' relation, a. sliding member, and a spring held member carried 'by f said sliding member, and yieldable to ,a predetermined weight, said spring held fm' m r` co-ecting with the card to engage th to the exclusion of all cards more from the spring held member. L i2. In a vendin machine for vendiptai-cards and similgar articles, a box or rece tacle for the cards having means for companting aseries of cards near one end of the ox and for separatin the cards at the other end of the hbox,7 a sli ing memberl arr for co erative" relation to spring eld member carried by the sliding member and provided with means vforengng'- in the adjacent card in the box, said' spring he d ineens ce-inv yieldable to move into enev gagement with tile topmost card in the box on the application of'al redetermined weight, and to be held by sai card against engagement with any of the other spaced cards in the box.. 1 Y

y In testimony that claim the foregoing as my own, l have hereto alixed my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

EDWARD B. snANKs.

Witnesses:

CHARLIE OCGNNER, J. Z. ScnULTz.

through the delivery end y one" end the box, an 1a. 

